Where Should You Go To Law School Based On Your Personality Type?

By Danni White on September 21, 2016

This article is brought to you by Kaplan, the leader in test prep for over 90 standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

Students choose to go to one college over another for a variety of reasons. For some, location is a major factor. For others, the cost of tuition, room and board are a top concern. Some students go for the college or degree program that will give them the most lucrative job opportunity after graduation. Still for others, the academic majors the school provides helps them to determine where they apply.

But what if you already know the subject you want to major in, but haven’t settled on the right school for you? Well, your personality might be able to help you make the right decision.

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Some students start the college hunting process by going to top schools, Ivy league institutions or schools their parents graduated from or their friends plan to go to. That is good to do, and should be a part of the process, albeit, a minor part. When searching for the right college fit, however, begin with an assessment of yourself. Put your interests, your long-term goals, your abilities, your skill set, your experience, and your personality into the equation.

After all, the purpose of finding a good law school (or any other college for that matter) is to find one that fits YOU. Putting yourself into the evaluation of what you’re looking for in a school can give you a boost of confidence once you make the final decision. Of course, you’ll have to go through the application process, but when you get accepted, you’re more likely to enjoy the experience.

So how do I analyze my personality? Let’s discuss the personality type identifier. Probably the most well-known and widely used popular personality tool is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Isabel Briggs Myers, and her mother, Katharine Cook Briggs, both of whom are credited with developing the test, based their characteristics off Carl Jung’s famous book on psychological types.

The MBTI classifies personality types into four pairs of categories which forms 16 possible combinations with one dominant preference in each of the four pairs. The four possible pairs of personality traits are as follows:

Introversion (I) or Extraversion (E)
Intuition (N) or Sensing (S)
Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)

You can view a short description of each of the 16 personality type descriptions on the MBTI website. You can take a short online test to give you a general idea of your personality type for free. If you want the more in-depth version, of course, there is a fee. (Good things don’t often come free.) Then use your results to help you narrow down your college choices.

According to Jennifer Alvey at LeavingLaw.com, the top six MBTI personality types found among lawyers are:

ISTJ (17.8%)
ESTJ (10.3%)
INTJ (13.1%)
ENTP (9.7%)
INTP (9.4%)
ENTJ (9.0%)

So, where should you go to law school based on your personality type?

Here is a brief overview of some of the best law schools based on personality type according to MBTI:

ISTJ (Introversion, Sensing, Thinking, Judgment) – Known as the “Logistician,” according to Jennifer Alvey, this one is the most common personality type of lawyers. If you uphold integrity, are a stickler for logic, and the one word friends use to describe you is dedicated, then you’re a good candidate for law school.

People with this personality type think it’s a privilege to take responsibility, are detail-oriented, and take pride in doing their best work. Some of the best law schools for ISTJ personality types include Emory University, Duke University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard.

ESTJ (Extroversion, Sensing, Thinking, Judging) – Known as the “Executive,” these people are bold examples of law and order. They value honesty, dignity, and hard work in their own lives and in the lives of others. The people around them love them for the guidance and leadership as they are always willing to lead when it seems most difficult and use their sense of right and wrong to affect change and unity.

In fact, many of America’s presidents have been ESTJs. Great law schools for ESTJ personality types include Armstrong State University, Seton Hall University, and Stanford University.

INTJ (Introversion, Intuition, Thinking, Judging) – Known as the “Architect” because they typically have a plan or strategy for everything. These types form a very small percent of the population which is understandable because these types are normally at the top and it’s very lonely up there. INTJ types are intellectually curious, stubbornly ambitious, and imaginatively energetic. They embody the attitude of achievement and enjoy learning and discovering new things.

Great law schools for INTJs include Fordham University, Yale University, the University of Chicago, and Cornell University.

ENTP (Extroversion, Intuition, Thinking, Perceiving) – Known as the “Debaters,” students with this personality are curious thinkers who love an intellectual challenge. They have the ability to shred arguments, play devil’s advocate, and use their broad knowledge base and quick wit to prove their points. Of course, this is what good lawyers do, right?

A number of universities with brilliant law schools for this personality type include Baylor University, the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, and Yeshiva University.

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INTP (Introversion, Intuition, Thinking, Perceiving) – Known as the “Logician” because of their innovativeness, creativity, and unique perspective on a wide slew of things. If you have a philosopher type friend who is always thinking about possibilities and what could be, then you can be certain that they are of the INTP order. They love to not only create, but also to engage in debates over theories, ideas, concepts and discoveries. No one is more capable of identifying and solving a problem then these types. And surprisingly history shows that many of them have become scientists or lawyers.

Great law schools that teach INTPs include Stanford University, the University of Michigan, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of California at Berkeley.

ENTJ (Extroversion, Intuition, Thinking, Judging) – Known as the “Commander” because they are naturally born leaders and embrace the role of being in charge and in command. They are driven, determined, stubbornly ambitious and focused on achieving their goals. Perhaps they are small in number too less they override and crush those of a more sensitive nature. But their ability to act on objectives and execute plans with both skill and force is a valuable asset for any high-achieving organization.

Law schools that welcome ENTJs include Arizona State University, Indiana University, Boston University, and Georgetown University.

There you have it, some of the best schools according to your personality type. If you’re set on going to law school but haven’t decided where, hopefully this list will help you make an informed decision. The first step to making good decisions is being aware of who you are and what your end goal is and then you can take the path necessary to get there. Good luck on your journey!

Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.

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